Chapter 13: Chapter 13

Jessica stared at the words on the screen to make sure she wasn't dreaming. With a loud suppressed scream she jumped from the chair, still staring at the screen.

She managed to cool her mind so she wouldn't wake her family up. She didn't want them to know yet until she passed the interview.

Jessica looked at the time of the interview and it was around 8 am and it was fortunate that she was on afternoon duty at the cafe. She wasn't the only competitor and according to people who came to the cafe, the workers of Turner Group of companies are expected to dress smartly.

It means that she has to wake up early and prepare what to put on. There is so much she wants to do but she doesn't even have decent clothes to put on.

All she has are her old clothes. What should she do? She has no friends to ask because they all left the moment her father lost everything.

No one wants to be friends with the daughter of someone accused of drug trafficking. They avoided her like a plaque and she had already become used to the scorn.

Jessica walked towards her wardrobe and looked at all the stashed-up clothes she once had. A year ago these clothes would have been fashionable but not anymore.

Taking a deep breath and with confidence, she picked up a clean long sleeve shirt and a tight-fitting knee-cut skirt. If she can straighten it, it would likely look professional on her.

"I am sure they are looking for people with talent, not fashion sense. I don't have to feel embarrassed about my dressing as long as it is neat and ironed out" She murmured to herself.

Bringing out the rumpled clothes, she ran downstairs so she could iron them straight. But just as she wanted to press on it, the light went off. Baffled, she checked what the problem could be.

That was when she remembered that she didn't pay the electricity bill because the money wasn't enough. After buying her father's medicines, she was short of money for electricity. But weren't there two more days before it will go off?

"Ha! This must be a joke! How am I supposed to go to the interview tomorrow with rumpled clothes!" Jessica lamented.

She had no choice but to go back to her room and wait for the morning so she could beg their next-door neighbor.

Hopefully, the lady would help her. Unfortunately, she had no chance the next morning because she woke up rather late!

The next morning, Jessica hurriedly put on the crumpled shirt and skirt when she noticed she was already running late. It was better to go crumpled than to go late!

"Dad! Mom! Wish me well" she said, kissing her parents.

"Baby, are you going for an interview? Why didn't you… " her mother shot a series of questions at her.

But Jessica had no time for all that. She has to get to the company before the time of the interview. To meet up, she painfully took a cab that dropped her at the company's premises.

As she proceeded to enter the building, the guard at the entrance stopped her.

"Sorry, you can't go in. It's not yet time for deliveries" the guard said, strictly.

"Deliveries?" Jessica was confused but in turn, she understood what he meant." No… no, I am not here for delivery. I am here for the interview"

Her confident reply ticked the guard off who looked like someone who was having a bad morning. Earlier on, he had been scolded pretty badly by that Cynthia girl who always clings to the CEO.

"Are you kidding me? Do you look like someone dressed for an interview in such a reputable company? If you were the interviewer, would you accept yourself?" The guard asked, scornfully.

"What do you mean?" Jessica asked, feeling embarrassed.

"Look here, delivery girl. This is a highly reputable company and they don't hire people like you!" The guard spat out.

Jessica bites back her anger before replying." By your uniform, I can see you are just a guard here. What qualifications do you have to tell me what the company wants from its candidate? Are you the manager, director, or CEO?"

The guard was speechless at Jessica's counterattack." I have the right to stop any nuisance!"

"Even if that nuisance has the probability to work with the CEO?" A voice said from behind." I never knew guards are amongst the panel of interviewers"

Jessica looked up to see the girl that helped her that day, Misha. She smiled gratefully at her.

"Let her in and don't worry, I will bear whatever consequences. And also bear in mind that you will also bear your consequences too!" Misha said, glaring at the guard who quickly let Jessica in.

Then she turned to Jessica," Hurry before you are late!"

Jessica nodded before hurrying in. She was going to talk to Misha later after the interview so she could thank her. Hopefully, she will be chosen. Even if she wasn't chosen she would still be grateful to her.

As Jessica got to the place where the candidates were all seated, there were whispers and disgusting looks thrown at her. She blocked her mind from their talks because she knew this was bound to happen.

She knew she would be mocked for her dressing but she didn't mind as long as she was given the chance to be interviewed.

She lowered her eyes and continued reciting all the things she had studied until she was called in a few minutes later.

**********

It's been a hectic morning for Edwin as he had to sort out an issue that came up urgently last night. After his secretary quit last week because she was getting married, he had been extra busy these days.

He hopes he can get a competent secretary from amongst the candidates, especially the one good at computers. He continued signing on the documents as he typed.

If only Roy hadn't gone on a business trip on his behalf. Roy was his assistant and he had to leave early two days ago to attend to some urgent matters overseas.

There was a slight knock on the door before it was pushed open by one of the supervisors in charge of the interview.

"Is the interview about to start?" Edwin asked, still focused on the computer.

The man looked at his boss, puzzled." Sir, it's past the time of the interview. We have already picked the most qualified candidates"

" The interview is over? Did it mean I have been working for the past four hours or more?" Edwin asked, shocked at the supervisor's words.

" Apparently, yes sir. I have come for your final decision based on the two most eligible candidates" the supervisor said.

Edwin had been so busy that he had forgotten to tell the supervisor to hire that girl. He can only keep his plan rolling if she stays close to him. Nevertheless, there must be something that he could do about it.

*Who are the final candidates?" He asked, looking at the man.

" One Miss Jessica Graves and another Miss Tatiana Andersen"

" Jessica Graves? What's the issue then?" Edwin asked, suddenly getting pique. He can't believe that she was not just beautiful alone but she was a beauty.

" Jessica Graves is undoubtedly the most qualified but her… her… "

" Her what?" Edwin asked, frowning.

" Her dressing. She is not fashionable or presentable. She came with a rumpled worn-out dress and… "

" Enough. She is qualified, right?" Edwin asked.

" Yes, sir"

" Hire both of them. But Jessica would be assigned to me as my personal secretary and as for the other lady, I will think of something else" Edwin said.

" Yes, sir"

" And another thing…" Edwin instructed the supervisor on what to do before dismissing him.

As soon as the instructor left, there was a cunning smile on his face. Finally, she was on his hold! She can no longer escape his plan for her.

"Let's see if you can truly run away from me. This time, I am going to have you in my bed with your permission!" Edwin said to himself, smiling.

Then he concentrated on his work. He was going to meet the boys later in the evening and tell them how he had set the ball rolling.